Private First Class Jalfred D. Vaquerano, served with the U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss. He died from wounds sustained in Logar Province, Afghanistan. His honors include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Afghanistan Campaign Medal with star.

Soft-spoken and shy, Vaquerano was known for his heart, humility and a smile that lit up any room. A graduate of Forest Lake Academy, he dreamed of becoming a police officer. He loved his family and fiancée, Katie, deeply. Loyal and steady, he brought quiet strength and compassion to everyone around him.

Jalfred’s sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free. His light endures in the lives he touched and the love he gave. Through remembrance, service and unity, his legacy lives on. May his courage continue to inspire, and may we never forget the price he paid in service to his country.